Medical Dictionary: Glossary (A)

Abdomen, acute A potential medical emergency, an acute abdomen can be due to a problem with abdominal organs like appendicitis(inflamed appendix), cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder), a perforated ulcer in the intestine, or a ruptured spleen

ABR test Auditory brainstem response test. An automated test for hearing and brain (neurological) functioning that is performed by applying wires to the skin around the ear

Achlorhydria A deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices secreted in the stomach

ACL injury A knee injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL runs diagonally deep inside the knee from the thigh bone to the top of the larger bone in the lower leg

Allergy A reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body ‘ssystem of defence against foreign invaders

Amnesia An impairment in or lack of memory. Antegrade amnesia refers to a lack of memory of events occurring after a traumatic event, while retrograde amnesia refers to lack of memory of events that occurred before the event

Anatomy The study of the human or animal body , by observation , examination or dissection of dead specimens, microscopic examination, and textbooks